Touching on the issue of Iraq, it said Iran and Syria support theongoing political process to establish an independent government,restoration of peace and security in the country as well as unity amongall Iraqi parties. The statement further praised the efforts of the United Nations,the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Arab League andthe neighboring countries to put an end to the crisis in war-torn Iraq. Tehran and Damascus further expressed readiness to support and assistthe new Iraqi government return the country to normalcy in all fields. Condemning the upsurge of terrorist acts in Iraq, the two presidentsurged the need to set up a timetable for the withdrawal of occupyingforces from the country. They also stressed the need for implementation of UN resolutionsmandating non-proliferation and a Middle East region free from weaponsof mass destruction (WMDs), and called on the international community tomonitor the nuclear activities of the Zionist regime and compel it tojoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).--MORE 12 54 Local Time 09 54 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/320184